Genre: Documentary
- Own Voice
Aki
Director
Darlene Naponse (Anishinaabe)
Writer
Darlene Naponse (Anishinaabe)
Producers
Darlene Naponse (Anishinaabe), Jamie Manning
Genre
Documentary
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Environment, Female Filmmaker, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
Other Language
Language Version
EN Subtitles
Degrassi: Whatever it Takes
Featuring interviews with some of your favourite cast members (including Drake, arguably Degrassi’s most famous graduate), and the crews and creators of the various series, this is a nostalgic look at a seminal series that’s also not afraid to ask the tough questions about the sacrifices that were made to bring it to life.
“An ode to one of Canada’s greatest entertainment exports. It will make you laugh, it might make you cry, but more than anything, it will hopefully make you proud.” - Kevin Bourne, SHIFTER
Director
Lisa Rideout
Writers
Lisa Rideout, Celine Wong
Cast
Drake, Kevin Smith, Linda Schuyler
Producers
Erin Sharp, Carrie Mudd
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Arts and Culture, Female Filmmaker
Original Language
English
Language Version
EN CC
- Own Voice
Endless Cookie
Wildly imaginative and lovingly crafted over the course of nearly a decade, this unique animated documentary won the Audience Choice Award at Hot Docs in 2025 and Best Animated Film from the Toronto Film Critics Association.
“Endless Cookie is not like anything else and yet it is very much like life.” — Jennie Kermode, Eye For Film
Directors
Seth Scriver, Peter Scriver (Cree)
Writers
Seth Scriver, Peter Scriver (Cree)
Cast
Peter Scriver, Seth Scriver
Producers
Daniel Bekerman, Alex Ordanis, Chris Yurkovich, Jason Ryle (Anishinaabe), Seth Scriver
Genres
Animation, Comedy, Documentary, Drama
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Family Relationships, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Languages
Cree, English
Language Versions
EN CC, EN Subtitles, FR Subtitles
- Own Voice
There Are No Words
In this poignant documentary that brilliantly weaves together her family’s story with Korea’s political climate, Lee finds a bridge from the personal to the universal, tracing the complicated journey from grief to healing.
Director
Min Sook Lee
Writer
Min Sook Lee
Cast
Min Sook Lee
Producers
Sherien Barsoum, Chanda Chevannes
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Asian Filmmaker, Family Relationships, Female Filmmaker
Original Languages
English, Other Language
Canadian Distributor
National Film Board (NFB)
Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas
Every year, millions of people celebrate the Christmas season with a soundtrack of feel-good classics, most of which were written by Jewish songwriters. This insightful documentary showcases artists like Irving Berlin, Johnny Marks, and Mel Tormé who used universal themes of joy, love, and family to tell the story of the holiday.
Director
Larry Weinstein
Weinstein has received three Gemini awards for his work, including Best Direction for Beethoven’s Hair. Weinstein also directed the docs Mulroney: The Opera, The Devil’s Horn, Leslie Caron: The Reluctant Star, and Dreaming of a Jewish Christmas, and co-directed Our Man In Tehran. His latest, Propaganda: The Art of Selling Lies, premiered at Hot Docs 2019.
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Arts and Culture, History
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Filmmaker
- Own Voice
Tomson Highway: kipimâtisinaw tapâhpeyahk
Director
Barry Bilinsky (Métis/Cree)
Writer
Barry Bilinsky (Métis/Cree)
Cast
Tompson Highway (Cree)
Producer
Chehala Leonard (Aseniwuche Winewak)
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Arts and Culture, Biography, BIPOC Stories, Indigenous Filmmaker
Original Language
Cree
Language Versions
EN Subtitles, FR Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
National Film Board (NFB)
- Own Voice
Hebron Relocation
Director
Holly Anderson (Labrador Inuit)
Writer
Holly Anderson (Labrador Inuit)
Producers
Latonia Hartery, Katherine Baulu
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Biography, BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, Female Filmmaker, History, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
Language Versions
EN CC, FR Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
National Film Board (NFB)
Doors of War
Directors
Taras Lesiuk, Annick Sheedy McLellan
Writers
Annick Sheedy McLellan, Taras Lesiuk
Producers
Annick Sheedy McLellan, Taras Lesiuk
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Arts and Culture, Female Filmmaker, Global Experiences, History, Social Justice & Politics
Original Languages
English, Other Language
Language Version
Other Subtitles
500 Days in the Wild
Director
Dianne Whelan
Writers
Dianne Whelan, Tanya Maryniak
Cast
Dianne Whelan
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Environment, Female Filmmaker, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
We The North: From Prehistoric to Historic
Director
Sami Khan
Producers
Stephanie Azam, Vinay Virmani
Genre
Documentary
Interests
BIPOC Stories, History, Sports
Original Language
English
Language Versions
EN CC, FR CC, FR Dub
- Own Voice
Red Fever
Directors
Neil Diamond (Cree)
Cree filmmaker Diamond is known for several award winning documentaries that focus on Indigenous life and issues. His debut film, Cree Spoken Here, garnered the Telefilm/APTN award for Best Aboriginal Documentary. His most recent film was Inuit Cree Reconciliation with filmmaker Zacharias Kunuk and he is currently directing the documentary Red Fever.
Writers
Neil Diamond (Cree), Catherine Bainbridge
Producers
Rebecca Lessard, Lisa M. Roth
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Arts and Culture, BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, Female Filmmaker, Global Experiences, History, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
Language Version
EN CC
Canadian Distributor
Les Films du 3 Mars
- Own Voice
Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story
A moving portrait that shines a light on the career of a trailblazer who was ahead of her time, this incredible story won the Special Jury Prize for Best Canadian Feature at Hot Docs 2024.
“A compelling investigation of an elusive life, as well as a talent so striking you’ll be amazed it remained forgotten for so long.” – Dennis Harvey, Variety
Directors
Michael Mabbott
Writer/director Mabbott made his debut with 2005’s Life and Hard Times of Guy Terrifico, winning Best Canadian First Feature Film at the Toronto International Film Festival. He followed with Citizen Duane and television shows like Baxter and The Yard. His short documentary Music Lessons premiered at Hot Docs 2015. He also wrote, produced, and co-directed Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story, which was named to the TIFF 2024 Top Ten List.
Lucah Rosenberg-Lee
Lucah Rosenberg-Lee is an independent filmmaker, speaker and entrepreneur. He is passionate about telling the stories of marginalized voices through film and he specializes in documentary and LGBTQ+ content. He produced For Nonna Anna, which won the Best Narrative Short Award at the Atlanta Film Festival, and he co-directed the 2024 films Passing and Any Other Way: The Jackie Shane Story, which won the DGC Special Jury Prize at Hot Docs 2024.
Writers
Alison Duke, Lucah Rosenberg-Lee, Michael Mabbott
Cast
Rob Bowman, James Baley, Bobby Dean Blackburn
Producers
Janet Bradey, Justine Pimlott, Michael Mabbott
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Arts and Culture, Biography, BIPOC Stories, Black Filmmaker, Discrimination, History, LGBTQ2S+, Social Justice & Politics, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Language Version
FR Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
National Film Board (NFB)
- Own Voice
Ice Queens
A terrific showcase of the Black players and coaches that continue to make huge contributions to the sport, this documentary is an absolute must-watch for hockey fans.
Director
Damon Kwame Mason
Former TV and radio host Damon Kwame Mason transitioned to filmmaker when he wrote, directed and produced Soul on Ice: Past, Present and Future, a documentary about the contributions of black athletes to the sport of ice hockey. He went on to produce The Cannons in 2022, and directed Ice Queens, which was released in 2023.
Cast
Cassie Campbell-Pascal, Angela James, Sarah Nurse
Producer
Tom Cohen
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Biography, BIPOC Stories, Black Filmmaker, Discrimination, History, Social Justice & Politics, Sports, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Filmmaker
- Own Voice
Singing Back the Buffalo
This epic and inspiring documentary not only offers a new perspective on our connection to the land, it shows us what’s possible when we come together. Singing Back the Buffalo is an essential call to take notice – and take action.
“Tasha Hubbard has created a piece of living history” – Caitie Talty, In the Seats
Director
Tasha Hubbard (Cree)
Hubbard is an award-winning documentary filmmaker and an associate professor in the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Native Studies. Her NFB documentary Two Worlds Colliding won a Gemini and a Golden Sheaf Award. She has also directed the short film 7 Minutes, and the feature docs Birth of a Family, nîpawistamâsowin: We Will Stand Up, which won 14 awards, including the CSA for best documentary and Best Canadian Documentary at Hot Docs 2019. She is a founding director of the International Buffalo Relations Institute. Her documentary Singing Back the Buffalo won three awards and was nominated for four others.
Writer
Tasha Hubbard (Cree)
Producers
George Hupka, Tasha Hubbard (Cree), Jason Ryle (Anishinaabe)
Genre
Documentary
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Environment, Female Filmmaker, History, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Cinema Politica
- Own Voice
Yintah
Capturing footage that startlingly echoes Alanis Obomsawin’s 1994 film Kanehsatake: 270 Years of Resistance, this is a story we can’t afford to forget. Winner of the Audience Award at Hot Docs 2024.
“An incendiary feat of filmmaking” – Pat Mullen, POV Magazine
Directors
Brenda Michell (Wet'suwet'en)
Brenda Mitchell is Tsakë ze’ K‑eltiy (a hereditary chief) of the Unist'ot'en Clan of the Wet'suwet'en Nation. In addition to participating in Wet’suwet’en governance, she has worked in post-secondary education for the Lake Babine Nation Band for decades, and is currently a resident Elder, language teacher and addictions counselor. Yintah is her first documentary.
Jennifer Wickham (Wet'suwet'en)
A member of the Cas Yikh (Grizzly House) of the Gidimt’en (Bear/Wolf) Clan of the Wet’suwet’en Nation, Wickham is a poet, youth advocate, and a committed land defender and activist whose work includes language and culture revitalization. She has worked as Media Coordinator for Gidimt’en Checkpoint since 2018. Yintah is her first documentary.
Michael Toledano
Michael Toledano is a journalist, photographer, and documentarian whose work focuses on environmental pollution and Indigenous land defense. His reporting has appeared on Al Jazeera America, VICE, Ricochet, Upworthy, Rabble, and other outlets. His footage has appeared on CBC News, CTV, CP24, CityNews, APTN, and Democracy Now. Yintah is his first feature documentary.
Producer
Bob Moore
Genre
Documentary
Interests
BIPOC Stories, Discrimination, Environment, Indigenous Filmmaker, Social Justice & Politics
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Eyesteel Film
- Own Voice
Johanne, tout simplement (Simply Johanne)
A touching portrait of Johanne Harelle, a Canadian model who achieved international success as one of the first Black models in North America. Winner of the award for Outstanding Feature Film at the Reelworld Film Festival in 2024.
Director
Nadine Valcin
Writer
Nadine Valcin
Cast
Hamani Harrell, Alain Cadieux, Pauline Bernatchez
Producers
Ania Jamila, Josiane Blanc
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Arts and Culture, Biography, BIPOC Stories, Black Filmmaker, Female Filmmaker, History, Strong Female Leads
Original Language
French
Language Version
EN Subtitles
Canadian Distributor
Films du 3 Mars
Being Caribou
Directors
Leanne Alison, Diana Wilson
Genre
Documentary
Interest
Environment
Artie Shaw: Time is All You’ve Got
Director
Brigitte Berman
Writer
Brigitte Berman
Cast
Artie Shaw
Producers
Brigitte Berman, Don Haig
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Arts and Culture, Biography, History
Original Language
English
Canadian Distributor
Rialto Pictures
- Own Voice
Black Life: Untold Stories – Northern Beats
A musical look at the rise of hip hop in Canada, as told by some of its earliest pioneers, culminating in the worldwide success of artists like Drake and The Weeknd.
Directors
Will Prosper, Alicia K. Harris
Writers
Leslie Norville, Margot Daley
Genre
Documentary
Interests
Arts and Culture, BIPOC Stories, Black Filmmaker, History
Original Language
English
Lovable
Love: Why is it so difficult? That’s the question at the heart of Alan Zweig’s poignant and personal meditation about heartache and the inability to find ‘the one’. But rather than focusing solely on himself, he turns the camera outwards, getting a range of perspectives from single female friends that show the highs and lows of their relationships, and why they think it’s never worked out for them.
Using his distinctive style and wit, Zweig manages to make a film that anyone, no matter their relationship status, can relate to, and resonate with.
Director
Alan Zweig
Writer
Alan Zweig
Cast
Alan Zweig
Genre
Documentary
Interest
Biography
Original Language
English